title: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor as a marker for malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary.
abstract: We assessed the usefulness of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) as a serum marker for malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary. Serum levels of M-CSF were measured in 49 patients with malignant germ cell tumors and in 64 patients with mature benign cystic teratoma by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CA125 was measured by radioimmunoassay. The serum level of M-CSF was above normal (>1056 U/ml) in 44 (90%) of 49 patients with malignant germ cell tumors; the CA125 level was above the cutoff value (35 U/ml) in 34 patients (69%) (P < 0.05). The serum level of M-CSF was elevated in 20 (87%) of 23 patients with stage I disease and in all 16 patients with dysgerminoma. Only 7 (11%) of 64 patients with mature benign cystic teratoma had elevated levels of M-CSF. These results suggest that M-CSF is highly sensitive and specific for malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, especially for dysgerminoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, 3311 Yakushiji, Minamikawachi, Kawachi, Tochigi 329-04.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohwada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013724:Teratoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor